Machine for feeding sheets of metal, &amp;c.



No. 875,837. PATENTED JAN. '7,-1908.

P. MQINTYRE,

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SHEETS OP METAL, 8w. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14,1906.

- e SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Nu, 875,837. PATBNTED'JAN. 7, 1908.

' P. MOINTYRE.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SHEETS OP'METAL, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14,1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 875,837. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908. F. MOINTYRE. MACHINE FOR FEEDINGSHEETS 0F METAL, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 875,887. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

F. MQINTYREE MACHINE EOE FEEDING SHEETS 0E METAL, am.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1 14 1906.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Jaye/@2297:-

No. 875,887. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

' P. MoINTYRE.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF MET-AL, &o.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14,1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

No. 875,837; PATENTED JAN.A7, 1908. F. MOINTY'RE.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SHEETS or METAL, m.

APPLICATION FILED BEPI. 14, 1906.

6 8HEETSBHBET 6.

FINLAY MCINTYRE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF METAL, 850.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

Application filed September I4, 1906- Serial No. 334,673.

To all w]: m it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FINLAY McIN'rYRE, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use- "fulImprovements in Machines for Feeding- Sheets'of Metal and the Like; andI do hereby declare the following to. be a full and exactdescription'thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines for feeding sheets of metal and thelike, and has particular reference to machines for feeding sheets of tinplate.

The. common usage of the present time is to handle metal sheets byhand-in feeding.

themto slitters, formers or other metal working machines. This method isex ensive and disagreeable by reason of the p ysical discomfort in,handling sharp edged metal sheets.

My purpose in this. invention is to .take boxes of tin plate as theycome from the factory, knock the box from around them, and

. place the sheets in the machine without dis turbingthe pile or furtherhandling except for cleaning purposes.

My feedin mechanism is ap licable to any form of machine forworking seets of metal and the like, and while I herein describe it inits'application for slitting machines, I would not be limited in thescope of my invention by so doing.

My invention consists, first, in an automatic device for carr ing thesheets of metal and the like separate y to the metal working machine.

It consists, second, in the mechanism for automatically elevating aplurality of sheets of metal and the like to a position wherfrom theymay be successively picked up by the said carrying mechanism.

It consists, third, in the variousnovel devices and combinations of thesame nature, 1 herein illustrated andv described, together with theirmechanical equivalents, and pointed out with moreparticularity in theclaims ap ended hereto.

Iin'the drawings, Figure I represents a'plan view of my device. Fig. IIis an elevation taken from the end opposite the .cutting rolls. Fi IIIis an elevation of oneside, and Fig. I V an elevation of theopposite'side, parts being broken away in each view to better expose themechanism. FlgfV is a sectional plan view taken through the line 5 ofFig. II. Figs. VI to XI inclusive show enlarged details of my device.

More particularly described, A represents the frame of my machine,supported by the standards A A. To the forward end of my machine isjournaled' parallel shafts B, B, which carry at one end gears b and 1)respectively. The gears b and b mesh, thereby giving the shafts B and Bcoincident movement. Upon the shafts B and B are mounted cutting-rollsof'any desirable form,

1) and b respectively, which rolls serve the purpose of slitting thesheets fed into them by the feeding mechanism hereinafter described.Upon the shaft B op osite the gear I) is mounted the belt pulley throu hwhich the power-is transmitted to the shafts B and B and the cuttingrolls b and b The shifting pulley 12 rotates freely upon the shaft B andis intended to hold the power belt I) when the cutting rolls are atrest. A shifting fofk b of usual construction is provided to move thebelt I) from pulley b to pulley b and back again.

A guide a is provided at the forward end of the machine to carry awaythe waste of the sheet in slitting. 1

My feeding mechanism 1- describe as follows :Upon the frame A, at rightangles to the cutting roll shafts B and B, I construct parallel rollertracks C C. These tracks are rovided with recess a and the slope c Theforward wall of the recess 6 or the one nearest the cutting rolls b 1)is sloping, while the rear wall or the one-farthest removed from thecutting roll is erpendicular or nearly so. The angle of the slbpe c isof the same pitch as that of the said forward wall of the recess 0.

A roller rack D is provided fitted with rollers'd d d d, opposed to andengaging with the tracks C, C. The rack D is provided with slotted crossarms (1 d, which carry secured thereto the magnets (1 d A rocking frameconsisting of uprights d and d, joined at the top by the cross arm (1 issecured to either side of the rack D, and is designed to move the samealong the track C. The securement of the said rack D to the said frameis effected by the sliding engagement of the ins d, projecting from thesides of the said ame, with the elongated slots (1 d in the upper endsof the arms d and d. This sliding engagement is necessary to allow therack D to slide along the track C while the moving frame rocks on apivot. The said ries of levers to the power or the 'machine.

The table upon which the sheets to be slit are laced consists of thesquare bed E.

whic 1 is fitted at its corners with sleeves E,

which have sliding engagement with the up right rods e, e. I the ribs ee e, adjustably connected therewith by the adjusting screws 6 e Theseribs c e are-so constructed that the upper face slopes upward towardthe'centerof the length, and upon these ribs the sheets are intendedto-rest. The slo ing upward allows the topsheets of the ie placed uponthe table to separate from t e others at the ends, as the tendency of asinglesheet of metal is to rest fiat and not bend to the conformation ofits resting place, as will a pile of sheets. This insures the readlifting of the single sheet by-the magnets 2 d j 3 I In operationtheuprights d and d rock on their pivots d d and carry the rack 1) alongsaid track C until the rollers dd engage the slopes of the recesses cand 0, when the rack'D drops into said recesses and the sitedirectionand carry the rack D out of the recesses c and a, and forwardalong the track magnets d d engage the sheets to'be'slit. The uprightsd? andd then rock in the oppo- C, thereby lifting one sheet S, andcarrying it of the said sheet; I On the op osite side ofsented tothe'cutting rolls at right .angles;" A back guide F is fixed to theframe of the 55 ism,- itis seenjthat the magnets Wlll pick 11?.lotatably fixpn? end-0f an arm J which is is;

forward tofthe cutters b 'and b which en-. .35

gage the sheet and disengageitby force from the magnets d d Y In theoperation 7 by the magnets d d, the position of the sheet is liable tobe shifted. and the edge of the sheet not be presented at right anglesto the said cutting rolls. I therefore-provide a means of guiding thesheet accuratel' to ,the said cutting rolls, towit:On one si ,e of theframe A ofthe machine I provide a fixed channel guide F and opposedto'one side edge themachine'andiopposed tot e other side edge of thesheet I rovide a swinging arm F pivoted to the rack D at f. The lower orfree end of the'arm F en ages the roller faced dogf' whichis pivotef tothe frame A. This dog is normally held pressed inward toward'the sheet Sby a small spring f. The "small spring. f serves to normally hold thearm F outward from the sheetfi; The arm -F moving with the rack Dengagesthe dog f by which engagement it forces the sheet 8' against theguide F and the sheet S is premachine and is designed to act as a stopat the rear of the said sheets, .to prevent t em from slippingbackwards.

In the construction of the fe ."mechan Upon this bed E are placedofpicking upthe sheet S the sheets at levels varying in'range from thelevel of the track 0 to the level of the recesses c and c. I musttherefore provide means for elevating the sheets within the said rangeof the magnets just described. I rovide a screw E one end of which isrigid y secured to the bottom face of the table bed E. This screwprojects downward and engages the mechanism fixed to the lower bed G 'ofthe machine. This mechanism consists first of a nut g which engages thescrew E Uponthe outer face of the not 9 is cut a bevel gear which mesheswith another gear 9, fixed to a shaft g extending to the side of theframe A. 3

Upon this shaft g is fitted a ratchet wheel 9 Opposed to the saidratchet wheel is a pawl 9 w ch is secured to an arm -g-which isrotatably connected to said shaft 9 The connection of the said pawl withthe said arm is con structed as follows. Through a perforation in thearm g I pass a headed bolt 9 and upon it against the outside face ofthepawl g I place a spring disk A set screw 9 en-' gages the side of saidbolt 9 and holds it in place. The spring disk 9 bears against the .pawlg4 and holds it hits adjusted position against the force of gravity. Uon the upper face of the-pawl I rovide two iu'gs g and g,

the purpose of WhlOh willinow be described. 1 I

A spring controlled plunger H fitted perpend cularly in the frame" ofsaid machine. ts u per end lies opposed tothe rack D and is a a tedtwengp'ge therewith when said pack h 1 Its oweren 'av'ing 3 Mi e a ementwith a slotted bracket h fixed o ed G is fitted with a foot h and liesop psed to said pawl g between the lugsg and g. Y

In operation, when a sheet S is picked up by the magnetsd d and "carriedforward to the rolls, the rack D returning-to engage the magnets d (1with a succeeding sheet, drops 0 s'i'nto e recesses-c and c lea into therecesses c and'c' until the magnets make coiitactwith the top sheet S.If the said sheet i's near the lowest level of the said range of themagnets, the'rack D'strikes the upper end of the plunger H, driving it.downward so that the foot h engages with the lug 9 70f the said pawl g.The pawl g is thereby engagedwith the ratchet g and is held in suchengagementjay the spring disk 9. The

pawl is forced in a circle on'its rotating'arni 9 until the lug. g.engages the foot h when pawl g is disengaged from the ratchet 'Astheratchet g is thus revolved, the

the 3 shaft g is made to revolve and-through the said bevel gears g andg the screw E is, turned and the table bed E and the sheets thereonelevated the distance desired to 51%" Itis intende This effectedasfollowsiTo the upright 3 adiustab'ly connected at its other end withan arm j at an elongated slot Also ad- -fustablyengaged with said slotij is an arm jtwhic'h' is connected at its free end with a crank pin 7rfixed to the power shaft K. The other and free end of the'arm is fixedto a rock'shaft jhjournaled to the bed G. An arm j is 1givoted atone endto the arm j and at the ot er end to the arm 9 of the pawl 9 Thepower-conveyed from the shaft K.

through the arm by means of the crank pin 76 rocks the arm back andforth on the shaft j and the armd connecting with the mechanism of therack D and the arm j connecting with the mechanism of the table bed E,being both connected with the rocking arm the action of the twomechanisms is reciprocal. The adjustment of this reciprocation iseffected by manipulating the adjustable connections of the arms J and jzqith the slotted arm j.

To the outer end of the shaft 9 I fix a crank if, which with the pawl g"disengaged from t e ratchet wheel may be used to lower the table Ewhenit is desired to place a new su ply of sheetsflthereon.

Vhi le I describe herein the use of magnets as themeans for carrying thesheets forward to the metal working mechanism, there are other automaticmeans which may be employed to effect the same purpose, such as vacuumdevices of, various kinds, and I would. not be limited in my inventionto the articular means described herein. 1 ;I. would not be limited inthe details ol my construction and any modification for mechanicaleconomies may be made which come within the spirit of my invention. Themeans of effecting the reciprocating action of the raising of the tableand the feeding' the sheet may be modified. I'show one form which to meseems preferable.

"It is .my intention that my invention shall be applied to the slittingof sheets of metal, paper, felt or any other kind of material which maybe conveniently fed to the cutting device in sheets, and the ex ressionused herein, .sheets of metal and t 1e like is intended to refer tosheets of any material,

metal paper, felt or whatever kind which may be so fed in sheets.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a machine for feeding sheets ofmetal and the like, the combination with a metal working mechanism, of afeed in mechanism consisting of a roller track, a roller mounted rackengaging said track, automatic car-' rying means fixed to said rack, andmeans for automatically moving said rack along said roller track.

2 In a machine for feeding sheets of metal and the like, the combinationwith a metal working'mechanism, of a feeding mechanism, consisting of aroller track, recesses fitted in v the face thereof, a roller bearingrack adaptworking mechanism, of 'a feeding mechanism consisting of aroller track, a rack having sliding engagement with said track,automatic sheet carrying means attached to said rack, and means foractuating said rack, consisting of lever arms attached at one end tosaid rack, pivoted to the frame of said machine, and ada )ted to engageat its free end the power sha t of said machine.

4. In a machine for feeding sheets of metal and thelike, the combinationwith a metal working mechanism, of a feeding m chanism consisting of atrack, a roller bearing rack engaging said track, magnets iitted to saidrack, and means for automatically moving said" magnets into contact withsaid sheets and automatic means for actuating said rack.

5. In a machine for feeding sheets of metal and the like, thecombination with a metal working mechanism, of a feeding mechanismconsisting of a track, a roller bearing rack engaging therewith,automatic carrying means fixed to said rack, means for automaticallymoving said rack along said track, and a movable table adapted to holdsaid sheets and means for automatically moving said table into contactwith said automatic carrying means.

6. In a machine for feeding sheets of metal and the like, thecombination with a metal working mechanism, of a feeding. mechanism,consisting of a recessed roller track, a rack engaging therewith,automatic sheet carrying means fixed to said rack, means forautomatically moving said rack on said track and into engagement withsaid recesses, a sheet carrying table lying opposed to said automaticsheet carrying means, and means for automatically elevating said table7. In a machine for feeding sheets of metal and the like, thecombination with a metal working mechanism, of a feeding mechanismconsisting of a roller track, recesses fitted in the upper face thereof,a roller bearin rack adapted to slidingly engage said tracI: andrecesses, magnets fixed to said rack, and a sheet carryingtable opposedto said magnets, and means for'automatically moving said tablereciprocally with the action of said magnet bearing rack.

8. In a machine for feeding sheets of metal and the like, thecombination with a roller track, a magnet bearing raclchaving slidingengagement with said track, means on said track to change the elevationof said rack at a fixed point in its said sliding engagement,

and the like, the combination with a roller rack, amagnet bearing rackhaving sliding engagement with said track, means on said track to changethe elevation of said rack at a fixed point in its said slidingengagement,

of a table opposed to said rack'at the said point of change of elevationand means for raising-said table,,consisting of a-screw attached to saidtable and rneansfor automat= I v 1 chine, a shaft .avmg beveledengagement with ically turning said screw.

10. In a :ma'chine for feeding sheets "of? imetal and the like,the'icomhination with a metal working rnechanism and a feedingmechanism, consisting of a magnet bearing rack horizontally opposed tosaid ,metal working mechanism, and means for dropping said rack to alower level at a fixed point, of

a sheet bearingtable o posed to said magnets and means fore evating saidtabla. reciprocally with'the action ofsaidrack, con- .sisting of a screwfitted to said table,- anut "engaging said screw and bearing on theframe of same machinda spring -controlled plunger 1 ry'ing arm upon saidshaft.

fitted to said machine and adapted to engage saidrack'at the saidpointof dropping to 'a lower elevation,-and means for cooperatingsaidplunger-anfd said-nut.

11L1 1 a machine forfeedingsheets of metal working mechanism. and a,feeding mechanism, consisting of a magnet bearing raclradapted to slidehorizontally on said machine and to drop to a lower level at a fixedpoint, of a sheet bearing table opposed to said'raclr-at. the point of"vits said lower level, and means for elevating said table reciprocallywith the action of said rack, consisting of a screw fixed to said table,a nut engaging said screw and bearing on the frame of said machine, abevel gear fitted on said nut, a shaft journaled to. the frame of saidmachine, fitted with a bevel gear at one end, meshing with said bevelgear fitting on said nut, and fitted at its other-end with a ratchetwheel, a .pawl. engaging said ratchet wheel adapted to rotate with thesaid shaft as an-axis, a spring controlled plunger adaptpawl and saidrack and ed to engage sai means of rotating said pawl on said axis.

12. In a machine for feeding sheets of metal and the like, thecombination with a metal working mechanism, and a feeding mechanism,consisting of a magnet hearingv rack adapted to slide horizontally onthe frame of. said machine and to drop to a lower level at afixed point,of a sheet bearing table, a screw attached thereto, a-nnt engaging saidscrew andbearing on theframeof said 'masaid nut, a ratchet wheel mountedon said shaft, a rocking" arm engaging said shaft,-a pawl rotatablyattached to said arm, a spring plungerfitted to the frame of saidmachine,

adapted to engage said rack at the .point' where it drops to a'lowerlevel, the lower end of said plunger engaging said front and rear lugs,whereby said pawl is respectively engaged with and disengaged from saidratchet Wheel, and, means for rocking said pawl car- ,13. In amachinefor feeding. sheets of metal and the like, the combination witha metalworking mechanism and 1 a feeding mechanism, of:a sheet bearing table,and

vmeans for periodically elevating s'aid1table',

consisting of a screw, a nut engaging said screw, ashaft engaging saidnut and adaqotedautomatic means for actuating said rockingarm, and meansfor automatically engaging said pawl with said ratchet wheel, and disengaging it therefrom.

FINLAY MOINTYRE. Witnesses:

JAMES F. DAGLEY,

, A. M. BROW

